A WARNING

The world is on a journey as fast as it can go. And when they think of Jesus, they think He’s rather slow. They far prefer to worship the god of breakneck speed; They don’t have time to have a break, their inner man to feed. At least they are consistent, convinced that they are right. And so they will not listen to God and see their plight. I think the word is stubborn. The Jews would not obey, The messages God sent them. “Perhaps some other day”, Would seem to be more accurate. They thought they should return, To slavery in Egypt. But soon they were to learn, That God does not give options. He tells us what to do. And if we’re disobedient, his Judgement will come true. They thought they had a “talisman”. The temple in their town, Just had to be inviolable. No man could throw it down. They thought that if they had it, the Lord would surely keep, Invaders far away from them, so they went back to sleep. And so the time rolled by them. The temple was secure. And if the enemy attacked, they would be saved for sure! And then one day it happened. The temple was erased. Their “lucky charm” had been destroyed and all of them were dazed. The people were all led away with no one left behind. Except the few who hid themselves and so were hard to find. They’d learned a dreadful lesson. God’s judgement was so sure. The only way for blessings was if they all were pure. The Lord is very patient. He gave them ample time, To do what He had told them. They didn’t care a dime! So off they went to Babylon; they were no longer free, To do the things they wanted. Their former godless spree, Was rudely interrupted; and all the people wept, Thinking of the covenant that very few had kept. The moral of this story is what we see today. If we are  insubordinate and simply disobey, The Lord will surely judge us, no matter what we think. He’ll take away our “temple props” and all of us will sink. Because He has no favourites. He treats us all the same. For that’s one of the reasons why the Messiah came. We think that we are special and we are free to sin; And that’s the basic reason for the problems we are in. The Lord’s been very patient. The warning signs went out, When Christians lost their reverence and then began to flout, The laws that He had given and said they don’t apply; And judgement is upon us and shortly we will die. He’s said the show is over. His wrath is on the boil. His judgement is approaching. The only way to foil, What’s tearing down upon us, like a supersonic plane, Is genuine repentance in Jesus’ Holy Name. Jim Strickland – written Sunday, 09 October 2011

THE OVER-COMING LIFE

The Scriptures tell us plainly that we must not fear men. But somehow we get scared of them again and then again. It’s not so much a fear of pain as fear of what they think. If we are called religious nuts, it drives us to the brink. We don’t like looking stupid when walking round and round. But it’s the things they say and think that push us underground. Deliberate hostility and dying for The Lord, Is somehow much preferable. For dying by the sword, Is much more like a hero. But words behind the back, Is more intimidating that their direct attack. We know that it is silly, but that is how we’re made. We’d rather die a million deaths than show we are afraid. Their sticks and stones may hurt us but words can harm us more. And being called a crazy man; -- let’s not go through that door. So when we stand before them, who wants to testify? We’d rather all be silent and wish that we could die. Embarrassment is horrible. It makes us look much less, Than what we want them all to think; “Dear Jesus, What a mess!” He speaks of this in Matthew. He warns what will take place. The ones who long for righteousness, this is what they will face. The people will insult them and tell a bunch of lies. They hated Him without a cause; to us this truth applies. They couldn’t stand His righteousness. It cut them to the core. And when we take a stand for Christ, they’ll hate us so much more. But really it’s no problem, provided we stand firm. Get used to names like “Jesus freak” or some related term. Always look to Jesus, our purpose and our goal. Knowing that if we stand firm, His love will make us whole. The devil may go frantic and burn us at the stake; The way they did with Cranmer. But we will not forsake, The One Who makes it worth it. We know they’ll do their worst. But if we stick with Jesus it’s not us who’ll be cursed. We’ll be an over-comer and will not be ashamed. The very opposite is true. By Jesus we’ll be claimed. We’ll live with Him forever. Like Him we may have scars. But that is so much better that Hell’s hot prison bars. And God will then have finished, that which He first began; To turn a sinner to a saint and make a “perfect” man. Jim Strickland – written Saturday, 08 October 2011

THE PRICE OF PRIDE

 I've often wondered why it is that God cannot abide

In any of His children, the smallest bit of pride.

Perhaps His understanding and mine are not the same.

For there are often times in life that other things are tame.

Perhaps my best example comes from several years ago.

My son had been in study for longer than I know.

He needed to be qualified so he could get ahead.

And he was being honoured the way Unisa said.

I sat there in the audience. My heart was filled with pride.

My wife and I were present and both of us just cried.

I think that this is not the pride the Lord considered bad.

It’s probable that in my place, that Jesus would be glad!

It’s rather like the pride between a father and a son.

Seeing him achieve a thing, I never could have done.

And when He saw His Son achieve the goal that He desired,

I’m sure that He was “proud” that Jesus did what was required.

Perhaps pride is destructive when its focus is on me?

That others aren’t important; how hateful that can be.

It contradicts completely what Jesus has achieved.

The Saviour gave His life away so we can be received.

It’s the complete antithesis of thinking, “I am great”.

And this is what the Father says He cannot tolerate.

The Lord has made each one of us, and we are only dust.

So when we feel superior, it fills Him with disgust.

A little speck of nothingness - for that is all we are -

Thinks he is important; some sort of shining star.

And struts round like a peacock with nose up in the air.

Thinking he is better than everybody there.

The problem is for most of us, it looks a lot like me.

And I am not alone in this; the great majority,

Of people who will read this are probably the same,

And need to be released from pride and joining in this game.

So let us start to realise, the world is more than “me”.

And others more important than we can ever be.

The measure of our greatness the Lord alone can tell,

And if we carry on in pride, our destiny is Hell.

I think this has convinced me that when I think I’m top;

The fact must be acknowledged that I am just a flop.

Perhaps we do not like it? perhaps we’d rather strut?

But if we all persist in this, we're some kind of a nut.

And we will have to come before the judge of all the earth,

And find that we have sacrificed our chance of second birth!

Jim Strickland – written Friday, 07 October 2011

GOD ALMIGHTY

We call Him God Almighty; but what is it we mean? We need this understanding to describe Who is unseen. It’s more than the ability to do what He will do. It’s infinite capacity for all that right and true. The Bible tells us “God is Love”. We know this for a fact. But He has other qualities which mean that He will act, Not only out of “mushiness” we think is nice and true. But tempered by those “qualities” defining what He’ll do. We know His love is infinite. His power is the same. His mercy and His justice don’t fit into our frame. He doesn’t have just little bits; He has all endlessly, The attributes which we ascribe to perfect Deity. For God does not have mercy. He’s mercy through and through. We know that He is mercy in all that He will do. All His many qualities reach to eternity. His justice and His mercy meet there at Infinity! Perhaps the way to put it is to say, He is ”I AM”. I’m Love; I’m Joy, I’m everything; the Lion and the Lamb. I do not have these qualities, these qualities are Me. Regardless of your need today, “I’m all you need to see”. We think it is impossible. How can God be so great? But there’s no limitation; no force can make Him wait. His power can cleanse the leper and cause the blind to see. And changing water into wine; He does it instantly. The Everlasting Father; the Mighty Prince of Peace. Our God created everything; He can make all things cease. He has all the authority in heaven, sea or land. There’s no one who can question Him or give Him a command. He’s infinitely capable. No force can tell Him “Nay”! Whatever He decides to do is done without delay. He’s not intimidated by armies which are vast. He only needs to wink an eye and with one mighty blast, Those forces will all disappear. For God all on His own, Is greater than the universe, or everything that’s known. Our horses, they are nothing; Our chariots are vain; No one can overcome Him; no power can ever tame, Our Wonderful Creator, our Saviour, Lord and King. For when it comes right down to it, He can do anything. Jim Strickland – written Thursday, 06 October 2011

WHOM TO TRUST

It really is a question of who it is you trust. For some it’s the employer who is likely to go bust. For some it is the media and their favourite rocking chair. But who can trust the media? Their lies are everywhere. Some rely on alcohol and any form of booze. But drunkenness is guaranteed the way by which they lose! Some trust in their teacher or their granny’s crystal ball. Sadly at the very end these do not work at all. Others trust religion and their favourite guru. But when it comes to trusting; O Lord there’s only You. It wasn’t always that way. Not while I was still young. While life was like a violin that someone had unstrung. For You were there to rescue me and cause my face to smile. I’d been so deeply in the “dumps”, it had become my style. O Lord You hear the longings of people who are hurt. You specialise in rescuing from overwhelming dirt. Your love became a beacon in which to place my hope. The Blessed Holy Spirit gave the strength by which I cope. To cope with my shortcomings which haunted all my past. That’s when Your love, unfailing, so wide and deep and vast, Rescued and forgave me in spite of my distress. All of this You did while I was living in a mess! So Lord I have to praise You, for all that You have done; For giving me my freedom through Your Great and Holy Son. I never can forget it. The good You’ve done for me, Exceeds the expectations of all I thought could be. You heard my cry for mercy and my terror of the grave; You knew my deepest longings and You heard my prayer to save. I felt that death was choking me with ropes around so tight, It seemed to be impossible to live another night! So Lord I called upon You. I trusted in Your Name; And in an instant You were there to take my guilt and shame. O Lord I can’t forget You for all you’ve done for me. There’s no one else Whom I can trust for all eternity. I know I don’t deserve it; You did it on that cross. To think that God would do this – to suffer so much loss! You thought that I was worth it, in spite of all I’d been! How can I ever thank You for washing me so clean. Jim Strickland – written Wednesday, 05 October 2011

REFLECTING HIS GLORY

Is there some kind of pattern for those who’ve seen the Lord? Perhaps there is a difference how they carry His reward? Because it’s not surprising that Jesus’ face was bright. He was our Lord and Saviour, the very source of light; But not so for His followers. They only could reflect, The light He cast upon them; a light that was perfect. Jesus showed His glory with the glow of Deity. The others just reflected the light which they could see. That glory was magnificent; they shook at what they saw. I’m sure they had a special prayer, “O Master, show us more”. We don’t deserve to see it. He shows it for His sake. It caused the ones who saw Him shine to tremble and to quake. Moses saw God’s glory upon Mt Sinai’s peak. It caused his face to shine so bright it made the people “freak”. He had to don a special veil, God’s brilliance to conceal. But when He met with Jesus, God’s brightness He’d reveal. No other man in Scripture has revealed God’s glory twice; Mt Tabor and Mt Sinai. It happened in a trice. Those who follow Jesus now, display this blessing more, Than all we can desire of Whom, we worship and adore. But God’s exquisite glory is often tucked away. And very few have seen it up to this very day. Every Christian has it; it just cannot be seen. We know that it increases, if obedient we’ve been. It’s something like the Mercy Seat, concealed from human eyes. The blazing glory of the Lord so long had been disguised. For looking was forbidden until the wondrous day, When Father rent the curtain that kept us all away! And though we cannot see it, we know that it is there, Shining from the faces of Christians everywhere. The glory Jesus prayed for is publicly displayed! There may be variations in intensity and grade; But hidden under flesh and bone the light of Jesus shines, Showing that the Master, still gives almighty signs. For Jesu’s light is shining like a million giant stars, Testifying to the truth that wickedness can’t mar. So if you haven’t seen it, please ask Him to reveal, Those who carry in their hearts His Holy Spirit’s seal. Jim Strickland – written Tuesday, 04 October 2011